SR0618 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0618 LRB099 12645 GRL 36292 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of the Older Americans Act of 1965; during the past 50 years, the implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 has contributed to the economic well-being of millions of older Americans and has improved the quality of life for those individuals; and

WHEREAS, One of the key elements contributing to the successful implementation of the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been the establishment of an aging network composed of local area agencies on aging, providers of congregate and home-delivered nutrition, and many other community service providers; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging was created by the Older Americans Act of 1965; the agency has been empowered to act as an effective advocate for the concerns and needs of older individuals; and

WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 serves as a model for the development of community-based services, including services that provide alternatives to the institutionalization of older individuals; and

WHEREAS, Some of the programs authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965 were created to address the specific concerns of those older Americans with the greatest social and economic needs, especially minority older Americans; and

WHEREAS, Many services under the Older Americans Act of 1965, including long-term care ombudsman and legal services providers, have acted as powerful advocates for older individuals; and

WHEREAS, Services authorized under the Older Americans Act of 1965 have also provided important part-time community service employment opportunities for low-income older individuals; and

WHEREAS, Many older individuals, and those who serve them, have benefited greatly from the research, training, and education that programs established under the Older Americans Act of 1965 have provided; and

WHEREAS, During Fiscal Year 2015, Illinois Area Agencies on Aging will serve an estimated 515,700 persons 60 and over, accounting for 22% of the 2.3 million seniors in Illinois; the agencies will also develop and coordinate comprehensive systems of home and community-based services to enable older adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities to live in the least restrictive setting and avoid unnecessary hospital readmissions and placements in long term care facilities; and

WHEREAS, Thirteen Area Agencies on Aging in Illinois collaborate with 179 provider agencies to provide a myriad of home and community-based services for older adults and their caregivers, including information and assistance for older adults to help them make informed decisions about programs, benefits, and services and live independently for as long as possible, transportation programs, in-home services, home-delivered meals, congregate meals, Multi-Purpose Senior Centers, recreation programs, legal assistance, health promotion and disease prevention, and evidence-based health promotion programs; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of the changing needs of a rapidly aging society, the Older Americans Act of 1965 has been periodically amended and reauthorized; and

WHEREAS, The Older Americans Act of 1965 served as the foundation for an effective human services policy for millions of Americans as the United States entered the 21st century; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we affirm our support for the Older Americans Act of 1965 and the primary goals of the Act of providing services to maintain the dignity of older Illinoisans and promoting the independence of those individuals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act of 1965 without delay and with adequate funding to reflect the growing populations of Americans who benefit from the Act's programs and services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, and the members of the Illinois congressional delegation.